ONE of the problems of taking your computer to France is that if your keyboard is of a UK or US type then entering accents on letters can be a real challenge.
Trying to hold down three keys, in the right order and hoping you enter à or ê can soon tie your fingers up in knots.
WALK down any street in France and it won’t be long before you hear music and song from the rich tradition of times past.
You may hear the rhythmic lyrics of the Occitan language, the ancient pipes and drums of Breton or the mystical strains of North African berbère music.
ONE of the biggest stumbling blocks for people moving to France is learning the language.
And often this frustration is only magnified by the fact that many French people take the chance to speak English in reply, and polish up their own skills.
NOW here is a very useful website that will help you improve your written French.
The Le Patron website allows people to type in body of text and then scans it to check for errors.
BEING able to ask questions, and understanding when someone is asking something of you, is important when living in France.
Below you will find some common phrases that will allow you to grasp what people are saying and ask your questions to others:
THANKS to the internet you can brush up on your French language skills, stay up to date with the latest news and listen to hints and tips on moving to France.
It does help if you have a broadband connection to the web but most shows are produced so that they will be suitable for a dial-up service.
LEARING the basics of introducing yourself in French will take a lot of the fear away from speaking.
Once the ice is broken people are very receptive to those who are willing to try and speak in French and will often help.
CHARLES Baudelaire was one of the leading figures in 19th Century literature and his Fleurs du Mal is regarded as a classic collection of poems.
Born in 1821 in Paris he studied in Lyon and Paris and despite his family’s attempts to keep the young writer on the right tracks he soon gained a ‘bohemian’ reputation.
DESPITE French academics fighting to preserve the value of the language it is impossible to halt changing fashions and the use of words.
There are many French phrases and words that have become popular as ‘slang words’ with their meaning often quite different from the actual meaning.
THE BBC has an ever expanding section on their website for people keen to improve their French language skills.